Guidelines to Assist You
When Selecting
Accessible Housing
Modifying an existing house; Building a new home;
Purchasing an existing, accessible house.
Guidelines for Accessible Housing
Australian Standards 1428 “Design for Access
and Mobility”, Parts 1 and 2, are not designed
for private dwellings, however they provide
valuable assistance when designing a home or
assessing the suitability of an existing dwelling
for modification.
These Standards provide dimensions
appropriate to 80% (Part 1) or 90% (Part 2) of
the adult population with disabilities.
AS 4299 – 1995 “Adaptable Housing”
references both of these documents.
Copies of these documents are available from
Standards Australia, telephone 9221 6700.
Guidelines for Specific Requirements
When designing or modifying consider:
 Required circulation (turning) space will
vary depending on the size and type of
wheelchair to be accommodated, i.e.
manual, sports, electric, reclining.
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Level of function may change, therefore it
is important to consider future needs or
design for adaptations.
The needs of people requiring assistance
will be different from those who are
independent.
Your home needs to accommodate other
family members all with their individual
requirements.
Assessment by an occupational therapist
is strongly recommended to ensure that
your house will meet your individual needs,
both now and in the future.
Consider the Following
Car Parking Facilities
 Require a level surface with a gradient of
no more than 1:40.
 Require a car parking space with minimum
dimensions of 6.0 metres x 3.8 metres.
 Consider vertical clearance for a van or
roof mounted wheelchair hoist.
A Guide to Accessible Housing
The Independent Living Centre provides a free and impartial
information and advisory service to help you choose the right
product for you
Accessible Pathways and Ramps to the
House
 Should ideally be level.
 Should have an unobstructed width of at
least 1000mm.
 Should have a firm slip resistant finish.
 Should be sheltered from the weather.
 Should be well lit at night.
 If a ramp is required and the rise is less
than 190mm the gradient should be 1:10.
 If a ramp is required and the rise is more
than 190mm the gradient should be l:14 or
less.
 Ramps require 1200mm by 1200mm
landing or level space at the top and
bottom and at least every 9 metres.
 Ramps require handrails on both sides.
Thresholds
 Are best without a step.
 Any weather strip or doormat should be no
higher than 5mm.
 Any threshold ramps have a maximum rise
of 35mm and should be not longer than
280mm with a 1:8 gradient. The sides
should be tapered where the ramp does
not abut a wall.
 Use aluminium sliding doors which can be
“dropped” into a concrete slab to minimise
changes in levels.
 Closely spaced drainage grilles at external
doorways, level with the pathway, assists
with water run off.
Doorways
 Although preferred width is 850mm clear
space, the minimum acceptable width is
800mm. A wider single door style is more
convenient than a double door.
 A wider doorway may be needed if:
o The hallway is less than 1200mm wide.
o The wheelchair needs to pass through
at an angle.
o The wheelchair is a powered or
reclining style.
 Sliding doors should be considered if
circulation space at doorways is insufficient
Door Furniture
 Door handles are best installed at a height
of 900-1100mm.
 Lever handles and ‘D’ style handles are
preferred.
 An electronic latch may be necessary to
assist people unable to use a key.
 A door intercom security system can be
installed where required.
Internal Corridors
 Minimise corridors when planning, as
changes in direction require greater
circulation space.
 Require an unobstructed minimum width of
1000mm. A handrail may be required on
one or both sides for ambulant people.
 Require adequate lighting levels (300 lux).
A Guide to Accessible Housing
Floor Surfaces
 Should be slip-resistant vinyl sheeting, tiles
or low/close pile carpet
Windows
 Sills should be at a maximum height of:
o 730mm above floor level in the living
room.
o 600mm above floor level in the
bedroom.
 Opening mechanisms should be light to
operate with large handles or winding
mechanisms which are within easy reach.
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The Living Room Requires
 A minimum circulation space of 2250mm
diameter to turn a wheelchair 360°.
 All power points and switches to be
positioned within easy reach at 9001100mm above the floor. Large rocker
switches are easier to operate.
 The telephone to be at an accessible
height within the range of 750-850mm
above the floor.
 Adequate lighting levels (300 lux).
Kitchen
 Bench height should be between 750mm
and 850mm, with 1550mm clear space
between opposing benches (higher if
individual needs dictate).
 Toe recess of 200mm high by 150mm
deep will accommodate a wheelchair
footplate.
 The sink height between 750mm and
850mm, with sink bowl at a maximum
depth of 150mm. Insulation of pipes to the
underside of the sink may be necessary.
 The tap handle(s) should be located within
300mm of the front of the sink.
 The work surface beside the stove should
be 820mm long, 600mm deep, with knee
space underneath.
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Work tops and cook tops should be flush to
allow safe sliding of pots and pans.
The oven should be adjacent to the bench
with bottom of oven at bench height.
Storage shelving should be adjustable.
Use of drawers as storage allows easy
access.
At least one shelf of all cabinets or shelves
above a work surface should have a
maximum depth of 400mm and be located
no higher than 1200mm above the floor
level.
A microwave oven should be 750-1200mm
above the floor.
Doors and drawers should have D-handles
(80–100mm wide).
Handles of cupboards should be at the top
of lower cupboards and the bottom of
upper cupboards.
All floor surfaces should be slip-resistant.
Install recess task lighting over work
surfaces.
Bathroom
 Combined shower and toilet facilities can
minimise room size whilst maximising
(overlapping) circulation space.
 The shower recess should be a minimum
of 1160mm x 1100mm with no hob or step,
and preferably only two fixed walls.
 Provide a wheel in shower recess by
omitting any hob or step.
 To assist drainage, slope the shower
recess floor at 1:50 down to the waste
outlet. Grade the rest of the bathroom floor
1:70.
 Provide an 80 mm waste outlet located
centrally towards the back of the recess.
Horizontal grilles provide more efficient
drainage.
 A floor length shower curtain attached to a
suspended/slot/rail, either self-supporting
or with weights in the bottom, helps control
splashing or draughts.
 All floor surfaces should be slip-resistant.
A Guide to Accessible Housing
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Grab rails should have a diameter of 3050mm, although some people may prefer
25-28mm.
Grab rails should be fixed at a height of
800-810mm in the shower recess and
beside the toilet. They may need to be
higher or lower for individual needs.
Consider using a grab rail as a towel rail for
extra support.
A vertical grab rail with a sliding
showerhead support should be used in the
shower for showering whilst sitting on a
shower chair or commode.
A thermostatic mixing valve may be
necessary.
Tap(s) in the shower recess should be at a
height of 900-1100mm, or lower if
preferred, and within easy reach from
outside the recess.
Style of tap: Lever or capstan taps with ½
turn or ¼ turn spindles are preferred.
Hand basin: The height to top of the basin
should be 770-800mm with sufficient
clearance to allow knee access,
approximately 640-650mm under the
basin.
Mirrors should be angled or lowered to
900mm above the floor.
Toilet
 Specific transferring methods should be
considered to allow for appropriate
allocation of circulation space. A general
guideline to accommodate all transfer
techniques is:
o 950mm beside the toilet
o 1200mm in front of the toilet
o 1100mm to the hand basin
 The height to the top of the toilet seat
should be the same height as the
wheelchair and cushion being transferred
from, or 460-480mm above the floor.
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The distance from the front of the pan to
rear wall should be 800mm to allow for
side transfer or to accommodate an overtoilet commode. (Greater for reclined
commodes).
The height of the flush control should be
1100mm maximum.
The height of the grab rails should be 800810mm from the floor at the side and at the
rear of the pan. Higher or lower according
to individual needs.
References
AS 1428.1 – 2001 Design for Access and
Mobility, Part 1: General Requirements for
Access – Building.
AS 1428.2 – 1992 Design for Access and
Mobility, Part 2: Enhanced and Additional
Requirements.
AS 4299 – 1995 Adaptable Housing.
Bathroom Planning for People With
Disabilities – Independent Living Centre of
NSW (Inc), 2nd Edition 1994.
Kitchen Planning for People With Disabilities –
Independent Living Centre of NSW (Inc), 2nd
Edition 1996.
Acknowledgment
Snell, Heather. The Accessible Home:
Renovating for Your Disabled Child. 1983.
Is Five Press.